THOUGHTS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD. CHAPTER I. THE PROMISE OF A KINGDOM. THERE is a kingdom which the God of heaven has already set up amongst men. It is spiritual and invisible. It is established in the hearts of his faithful people, and its distinctive characteristics are righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. To this kingdom our Lord referred when he said, "The kingdom of God B cometh not with observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."1 To be the subjects of this kingdom is of paramount importance, and until we are so, it is in vain to speculate on the things which pertain to the kingdom of glory. It is on this account that we testify to all men the necessity of repentance towards God, and of faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and that, as the ambassadors for Christ, we beseech our fellow-sinners to be reconciled unto God, calling upon them to forsake the kingdom of darkness, that they may be translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. Happy are they who have obeyed this calling! who have believed in the Lord 1 Luke, xvii. 20, 21. Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and have received the grace of the Holy Spirit in their hearts! They are the subjects of this spiritual and invisible kingdom, and although their views on other portions of divine truth may be imperfect and obscure, they are the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and when Christ who is our life shall appear, they also shall appear with him in glory. To the kingdom of grace, then, we would ever give the first place in our thoughts, and urge it upon the consideration of all men as of primary importance, ever praying that, as sin hath reigned unto death, even so may grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by our Lord Jesus Christ. It must be obvious, however, to every attentive reader of the Scriptures, that our Lord spoke not only of the kingdom grace, but of a kingdom of glory, and that, to those who had become the sub of |